MRO news: Tom Lynch hit by both injury and suspension, Blues to challenge McKay’s ban

The Tigers’ finals prospects have copped a huge blow with superstar forward Tom Lynch ruled out long term through both suspension and a serious injury.

MELBOURNE – APRIL 08: Tom Lynch of the Tigers is seen on the bench during the 2023 AFL Round 04 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Western Bulldogs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 8, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Richmond superstar Tom Lynch is facing at least two months on the sidelines to recover from a broken foot in a huge blow to the Tigers’ finals prospects.

Lynch fractured his right foot in the loss to Western Bulldogs on Saturday and will require surgery to mend the problem in the hope he can return in the back half of the season.

He will be replaced by premiership goal kicker Jack Riewoldt at full forward as the Tigers try and avoid a third-straight loss against Sydney Swans at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

Lynch is one of the Tigers’ most important players and one of the most damaging key forwards in the game.

He took out the club’s best and fairest last year after slotting 63 goals and 27 behinds.

But the Tigers will have to try and upset the Swans without him, followed by a tough game against Melbourne on Anzac Day eve, after one win and a draw from the first month of the season.

Separately, Lynch will face a minimum three-game suspension at the tribunal this week after he was cited for his bump which concussed Bulldogs’ defender Alex Keath on Saturday.

Tom Lynch will be forced into surgery due to a foot concern. Picture: Getty

Lynch’s bump was graded as careless conduct, high contact and severe impact, triggering the tribunal hearing where Lynch’s advocate will try to clear him on the basis Lynch was going for the ball in a marking contest.

Lynch, 30, had his eyes on the ball but jumped off the ground as he braced for contact and collided with Keath’s head, concussing the Bulldogs’ defender.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick bristled at suggestions Lynch could be in trouble for the hit, but the AFL is determined to take a strong stance against brain injuries and protect players’ heads amid the concussion crisis.

The league handed Melbourne’s Kysaiah Pickett a two-match ban for his bump on Bulldog Bailey Smith in Round 1.

But the Lynch bump on Keath was worse as Smith quickly got back to his feet and played on, whereas Keath was concussed and will miss next week’s clash against Port Adelaide under protocols.

The club will put Lynch’s long-term welfare first in his recovery from his foot surgery, in an attempt to help the goal kicker make a complete recovery in time for September.

He bravely played on with the sore foot in the clash against the Bulldogs after hurting it in the second term.

Tom Lynch flattens Alex Keath #AFLTigersDogspic.twitter.com/ixMfA1SOps

— Lace out (@laceoutofficial) April 8, 2023

But scans on Sunday confirmed fears he had suffered a serious right foot injury which would take months to heal.

Richmond said it would be clearer on a return date post-surgery.

“Scans have revealed that Richmond key forward Tom Lynch has a fracture in his right foot,” a club statement said.

“The club will have a clearer indication of the injury’s timeline following surgery.”

Riewoldt was rested for the loss to the Bulldogs on Saturday but will return to spearhead the forward line in his 17th season.

BLUES TO TAKE MCKAY CASE TO TRIBUNAL

—Jon Ralph

Carlton is expected to appeal the one-week ban handed to Harry McKay in an attempt to clear him for the Gather Round clash against a resurgent Adelaide on Thursday.

McKay was handed a suspension for striking North Melbourne’s Harry Sheezel late in the last quarter of the victory over the Roos.

The Blues spearhead threw his arms at Sheezel but the Blues could attempt to argue it was a fending motion rather than an actual strike.

They will also likely use Gold Coast defender Charlie Ballard’s recent tribunal case as a precedent.

Ballard was handed a one-week ban for a strike that bounced off Essendon forward Matt Guelfi’s shoulder then hit him in the head.

Ballard was able to have his case overturned as he argued that he was tying to get to the contest.

“They (Essendon players) were trying to block me and stop me getting to the ball to defend,” Ballard said.

McKay’s hit on North’s Harry Sheezel. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

While the tribunal agreed and allowed him to play against Geelong, former tribunal member Daniel Harford was furious at the leniency shown by the judiciary.

“The game has been done a disserve by that outcome. That is a joke. I’m so disappointed, so angry about that. I could not believe that got downgraded.”

McKay’s strike was labelled medium grading given the capacity to cause serious injury but he would escape with a fine if it was downgraded to low impact.

McKay was in hot form against the Roos with 16 disposals, 4.1 and 14 marks against the undersized Roos as he and Charlie Curnow formed a dynamic pairing.

The Blues have three wins and a draw from four games and will be determined to continue their hot streak in a contest that kicks off the new-look Gather Round.

Carlton will have returning midfielders Sam Walsh, Matt Kennedy and Blake Acres all back as Michael Voss calls upon his first-choice onball unit for the first time this season.

The Blues can play Tom De Koning as a permanent forward alongside Curnow if a tribunal case on Tuesday fails but given Adelaide’s strong form will be keen to get him cleared.

DIMMA’S FURORE AT HOST BROADCASTER OVER LYNCH BUMP

— Nick Smart

Damien Hardwick has bristled at suggestions Tom Lynch could face MRO scrutiny for the clash that left Alex Keath concussed on Saturday, attacking the TV broadcaster and describing the action as “tough in the contest.”

The Richmond coach was seething after his side gave up a 14-point halftime lead to lose to the Western Bulldogs by five points at the MCG.

Richmond has won just one game after four rounds.

To make matters worse, Lynch will be looked at after a collision with Keath in the first team led to the Bulldogs defender leaving the game.

Keath was backing into a marking contest at half-back when Lynch ran under the ball and made contact with Keath.

In a tense exchange at the post-game media conference, Hardwick feigned ignorance when asked if he believed Lynch would face scrutiny.

“What for? What incident?” Hardwick said.

“You’re saying an incident. I don’t know what incident you’re talking about … in a marking contest? Yeah, well, who knows?”

When told the Fox Footy broadcast said the incident could be looked at, Hardwick replied: “Well, it was raised on the broadcast was it?

“I’ve listened to the broadcast recently. They’re not great.”

When then asked for a second time if he thought there was anything in the incident, Hardwick replied: “What, for being tough in the contest? No, I wouldn’t have thought.”

Originally published as MRO news: Tom Lynch hit by both injury and suspension, Blues to challenge McKay’s ban